The early response of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity, melatonin and catecholamine levels in rats irradiated with gamma rays

Title:

The early response of pineal N-acetyltransferase activity, melatonin and catecholamine levels in rats irradiated with gamma rays

Creator:

Kassayová, M., Ahlersová, E., Pástorová, B., and Ahlers, I.

Identifier:

https://cdk.lib.cas.cz/client/handle/uuid:e9d4ad03-84a1-41d3-9dea-61ae4172858d
uuid:e9d4ad03-84a1-41d3-9dea-61ae4172858d

Subject:

pineal gland, melatonin, catecholamines, ionizing radiation, and rats

Type:

article, model:article, and TEXT

Description:

Male Wistar rats adapted to an artificial light-dark regimen (12 h light: 12 h darkness) were whole-body irradiated with a dose of 14.35 Gy of gamma rays. Irradiation, sham-irradiation and decapitation 30, 60 and 120 min after the exposure were performed between 2000 h and 0100 h in the darkness. The serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity (NAT), the concentration of melatonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine were measured in the pineal gland. The serum levels of melatonin and corticosterone were also determined. Ionizing radiation did not change the activity of the key enzyme of melatonin synthesis, NAT, but decreased the concentration of pineal melatonin. The concentration of pineal dopamine and norepinephrine decreased 30 and 120 min after exposure, while the concentration of epinephrine was elevated 30 min after irradiation, though later it was markedly decreased. The serum melatonin level was not changed, but an increase in corticosterone level was observed. In the early period after the exposure, a decrease in pineal melatonin occurred, accompanied by a decrease in pineal catecholamines. On the contrary, in the phase of developed radiation injury the signs of increased melatonin synthesis were observed on days 3 and 4 after the exposure (Kassayova et al. 1993a). The underlying mechanisms require further research.

Language:

English

Rights:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
policy:public

Source:

Physiological research | 1995 Volume:44 | Number:5

Harvested from:

CDK

Metadata only:

false